Under India’s updated baggage rules, duty-free limits for gold, coins, and electronics are determined by stay duration and Customs declarations. The Baggage Rules, 2026 replace the 2016 framework, aiming to simplify allowances while tightening enforcement and compliance.

…

Jewellery allowance

• A critical change is the removal of value caps on jewellery. Instead, the allowance is linked to weight.
• Women passengers can carry up to 40 grams of gold jewellery duty-free
• Men and other passengers can carry up to 20 grams duty-free

The rule applies only to Indian residents or persons of Indian origin who have lived abroad for more than one year. 

Earlier, travellers often faced disputes due to volatile gold prices, but Customs officers now assess only check the weight of ornaments

However, this relief comes with conditions: 

• Jewellery must be for personal use, not commercial purposes
• It must form part of accompanied baggage
• Any excess quantity will attract Customs duty

 

Gold coins, bars and bullion are excluded from relief, as these items fall under restricted items and must be declared separately.

Eligible passengers (Indian passport holders or persons of Indian origin) who have stayed abroad for at least six months can:

Bring up to 1 kg of gold in total (including jewellery)
Pay applicable Customs duty, often at concessional rates depending on duration of stay
Short trips of up to 30 days are typically ignored while calculating th……

The rules for electronics remain largely unchanged but are now defined better.
Under the general free allowance (Rule 5):
Passengers (other than foreign tourists) can bring goods worth up to Rs 75,000 duty-free when arriving by air or sea
Foreign tourists have a lower cap of Rs 25,000
This limit covers items such as:

Smartphones
Cameras
Watches
Other electronic gadgets
Laptops
Travellers aged 18 or above can bring:

One new laptop (or tablet/notebook) will be duty-free
This is over and above the Rs 75,000 limit
This is a practical concession, recognising laptops as essential personal devices.

However, if you carry:

Multiple new gadgets
High-end devices exceeding the limit will attract Customs duty, often at a flat rate plus applicable GST.

There is no duty on:

Personal laptops, phones, or watches that you took abroad and are bringing back
Everyday personal effects

However, documentation matters. Travellers are advised to:

Carry proof of prior ownership
Obtain an export certificate before leaving India (if possible)
This helps avoid disputes about whether an item is “new” or “used”.

Customs compliance hinges on proper declaration: 

• Use the Red Channel if carrying dutiable goods
• Use the Green Channel only when you have nothing to declare

Non-declaration can trigger:

• Confiscation of goods
• Penalties up to three times the duty
• In serious cases, prosecution

 

Authorities are also pushing digital declarations through systems such as the Atithi app, signalling a move towards tighter, tech-enabled monitoring.